INTRO

I am Scott aka Scottydog aka Scotty Dogg, runner since 1983, cancer survivor – caught very early, so I actually had a fairly easy time of it - , retired Air Force, employee of University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), friend of dogs, fun-runner, and all-around punster and goofball.  In 2003 I had spinal arthritis flare up and ever since then I’ve done the run/walk method since it hurts my back too much now to run continuously with no walk breaks.  I’m on what I call my “2F Plan” which stands for Fun and Finish.  My only goals for a race these days are finish everything I start, have fun along the way, and finish standing up with no ambulance waiting for me.  At events that I now do for fun I carry my camera, chase “Great Legs” to help motivate my slow old man self to keep moving forward, and take pictures before, during, and after the race. Sometimes I even get a nice post-race sweaty hug from one of the Great Legs ladies.   I then do a pictorial race report of my events.  I also carry dog biscuits with me to treat any dogs I may meet at a run – unless it’s a mean dog; then the biscuit goes in one direction and I go in another.  Hence my nickname “Scottydog.”

Here is yet another of my Race Reports with Photos.  I am not exactly a good photographer but hey, at least all the photos are free so my ‘subjects’ can save and share their photos if they so desire. Mucho thanks to all the people I interacted with at this event for their graciousness, patience, and good humor in letting me take photos of them. 

And a big thanks to runningahead.com for allowing me a “home” for my many many MANY race reports and photos.  Great site, free training log; calendars; running routes; maps; conversation forums for runners; and much more!

Done on June 12^th, my 30^th race of 2016 was the Dogs Days of Summer 5K put on by Carrera Races of San Antonio.  The timing and course setup was done by local race company www.iaapweb.com who did their usual great job.   This event supported Guide Dogs for the Blind.  About 150 or so runners and walkers and several ran or walked with their dogs at this dog-friendly event.  This was a very hilly 2-lap course.   I ended up 4^th in my age group, with the guy in 3^rd place finishing 37 seconds ahead of me.  As I’m not quite 100% yet I took it pretty easy on the hills; it’s all good, I was very happy, because my results were that the leg did not bother me, so I am definitely on the healing road, and I thought the hills would really slow me down and I’d finish in 40-something, so 37-something was a pleasant surprise.

On to the photos!  I do tend to take a LOT of photos at the events I do.  So if you’d rather just see photos only without my commentary you can check out the slideshow of this event at this link:     http://s166.photobucket.com/user/scottydog69/slideshow/2016%20Race%20Reports/2016%20Race%2030%20Dog%20Days%20of%20Summer%205K 

BEFORE THE START

Arrived at the race venue with about 45 minutes to start time and did my usual pre-start photo thing. Event was held at Eilan, a residential/business offices/restaurants-and-retail community just across from Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

"Town Center" at Eilan

One runner doing his race warmups on the stairs

Me and friend and fellow Team RWB team member, Karen

Race Day Registration:  Race Director Virginia and some of her crew

Some of the participants, volunteers, supporters, etc.  The 'paw-print' bags some of the people have are the goodie bags participants got

This guy  and the guy in the photo after this one are wearing the race shirt participants got

My ride on the course in case I needed it.  iaapweb.com folks Jose (driver), Minnie, Paul Baltutis (right back), and some hitch-hiker they picked up. 

iaapweb - timing and results

Me and Bernadette right before we started, after she finished her warmup run

Getting ready to start.  You can see some of "The Rim" shopping center buildings across the road from Eilan

Behind me at the start line

ON THE COURSE

 This was a 2-lap course of hills with a few flat places along the course – very few! Even the start and finish is on a small incline.  A challenging course and especially challenging when the humidity is nearly 100 percent, the temp is already near 80 at 8 a.m., and the dew-point is in the 70s.  I think some of the poor doggies were feeling the heat, but Carrera had thoughtfully put out a water stop for the dogs and also had wading pools filled with water that the dogs could drink from and lie in.

And we're off....almost right off the bat we start up a hill

And another hill

downhill for a bit

This was the biggest/longest hill on the course - a downhill;  good for some; bad for me, as downhills REALLY pound my arthritic back. I took it very easy going down this hill.

Almost done with my first lap

As I was finishing my FIRST lap, lol, this guy was already finishing his race. He was the overall 5K male winner.

2nd lap for me.

I chased this kid and his 'sister' for most of the race.  He was a very speedy little kid, lol.  He did great.

Finished at last!  My first lap was 19-something and I finished in 37-something, so for the 2nd lap I did slightly negative splits, nice.

As I headed to get some water I accidentally snapped a photo of Virginia's brother;  well, part of him anyway, lol. Nice shoes, bro!

Ahhh, here's the rest of him!

One of the security guys out there doing traffic control for us. Thank you sir!

AFTER THE FINISH

 Got some water right after the finish, did a cool-down walk, and found a shady spot to rest a bit and drank my water. Then it was off to get some post-race goodies and take some photos of the “happy finishers’, their supporters, etc.

Some of the goodies....

...and beer, as modeled by this guy

goodies for purchase

Happy happy now...the hills are all done!

That looks refreshing!  Can I join you?

My and one of my 'running crushes', Race director Virginia

Team RWB team mates Margaret and Rocky

Karen and Bernadette

Age Group winner Bernadette

This lady ran AND  pushed her young one in baby jogger up and down all those hills!  She definitely got her workout.  Her husband got his major workout the day before; he did the Pearsall Park 5K on June 11, a very hilly race also on mostly off road trails.

Tired but happy finisher, and a 'fashion statement'. 

 EPILOGUE

Carrera Races always has some pretty well-organized events and a ton of goodies post-race, including beer, oh yeah; I enjoyed a beer post-race, even if it was only 9 a.m.; hey, that military training of mine came in handy, you learn to drink at all kinds of hours.    Very nice quality tech-tee race shirt for this event and, although hilly, a pretty nice area to do a run or walk in.  Very little traffic, good facilities – indoor restrooms instead of the usual race port-a-potties is always nice - ample parking, and close proximity to several food venues – The Rim shopping area was right across the street/IH10 from Elan – if folks wanted to go get breakfast or brunch or whatever post-race. The age group awards were little dog tags with a dog emblem on them.   I’ve done this event several times in the past and will do it again, and would recommend it to my fellow runners.

Mucho thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, vendors, law enforcement/security folks, etc; all the people out there that made this one happen for we participants.

Loved all the pictures of the dogs! Glad your healing up.